Ice discharge apparatus of ice dispenser

Abstract

An ice discharging apparatus of an ice dispenser comprises an openable door normally urged resiliently to a closed state by means of a torsion coil spring and adapted to be openable by a door actuator under the control of a control apparatus. The torsion coil spring includes an intermediate coil portion substantially of a cylindrical form and at least one end coil portion having an inner diameter greater than an average diameter of the intermediate coil portion in the unloaded state. The torsion coil spring has at least one arm extending from an end of the coil spring and having an extension secured in contact with a stationary part of the apparatus or a part of the openable door at an intermediate portion thereof and subsequently bent to constitute an inactive portion in which an annular mounting member for mounting the torsion coil spring is formed at the free end thereof. The torsion coil spring includes at least one annular portion formed at an end of an arm extending from the spring, the annular portion being linked to an anti-drop wire ring member mounted on a stationary part of the ice discharging apparatus or on the openable door. The torsion coil spring is difficult to break. Fragments resulting from breakage is prevented from dropping into ice being discharged.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ice discharging apparatus of an ice dispenser, comprising an openable door normally urged resiliently to one of closed and opened states by means of a torsion coil spring and biased to the other of the closed and opened states by a door actuator under the control of a control apparatus, said torsion coil spring including an intermediate coil portion, and at least one coil end portion extending therefrom, wherein under an unloaded condition, said intermediate coil portion is in the form of a substantially cylindrical form and said at least one coil end portion has an inner diameter greater than an average diameter of said intermediate coil portion. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said end coil portion is formed on the side of an arm of said torsion coil spring at which the latter is engaged with said door. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torsion coil spring includes two end coil portions each having a greater inner diameter than the average diameter of said intermediate coil portion, one of said end coil portions being formed on the side of an arm of said torsion coil spring engaging with said door, and the other of said end coil portions being formed on the side of an arm mounted on a stationary part of said door actuator. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said end coil portion defines at an outermost turn thereof a gap relative to a supporting shaft on which said torsion coil spring is mounted, said gap being at least one third of a diameter of a wire material forming said torsion coil spring. 
     
     
       5. An ice discharging apparatus of an ice dispenser, comprising an openable door normally urged resiliently to a closed state by a torsion coil spring and adapted to be opened by a door actuator under the control of a control apparatus, wherein said torsion coil spring has at least one arm extending from an end of said torsion coil spring having an extension secured in contact with a stationary part of said ice discharging apparatus or an extension with an intermediate portion thereof secured in contact with a part of said openable door and subsequently bent to constitue an inactive portion at which a mounting member for mounting said torsion coil spring is formed. 
     
     
       6. An apparaus according to claim 5, wherein said torsion coil spring under an unloaded condition includes an intermediate coil portion substantially of a cylindrical form and at least one coil end portion having an inner diameter greater than an average diameter of said intermediate coil portion. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said end coil portion defines at an outermost turn thereof a gap relative to a supporting shaft on which said torsion coil spring is mounted, said gap being at least one third of a diameter of a wire material forming said torsion coil spring. 
     
     
       8. An ice discharging apparatus of an ice dispenser, comprising an openable door normally urged resiliently to a closed state by means of a torsion coil spring and adapted to be opened by a door actuator under the control of a control apparatus, wherein said torsion coil spring includes at least one annular portion formed at an arm extending from said spring, said annular portion being linked to an anti-drop wire ring mounted on a stationary part of either said ice discharging apparatus or said openable door. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said torsion coil spring under an unloaded condition includes an intermediate coil portion substantially of a cylindrical form and at least one coil end portion having an inner diameter greater than an average diameter of said intermediate coil portion. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said end coil portion defines at an outermost turn thereof a gap relative to a supporting shaft on which said torsion coil spring is mounted, said gap being at least one third of a diameter of a wire material forming said torsion coil spring.